Conference napalm::commusic_v1

2013.0. "JamBox/2 Review and SMPTE" by MASTER::DDREHER () Mon Jun 05 1989 20:12

     I have recently acquired a JamBox/2 SMPTE/MIDI Processor by Southworth
Music on perma-loan.  Don't you love perma-loans? (When someone lets you have
something for an open ended period of time).  Anyway, the owner bought it but
didn't have time to use it due to a heavy gigging schedule.  I volunteered a
loving home.

     I've been using FSK to synchronize my MC-500 and Tascam 38.  The problem
is that I'd have to start from the beginning of the tune to sync the MC-500
to the 38.  Also, in order to do repetitive overdubs in the middle of the
tune, I'd record a mono scratch track of all the MIDI stuff lock to the FSK.
This, in effect left me with 6 tracks for guitars, vocals, etc.

     Anyway, I've been thinking of using SMPTE for while but have waited
for prices to come down.  Adams-Smith and Zeta boxes are a little to expensive
my budget.   Recently, low cost fake SMPTE came on the scene (JLCooper PPS-1)
and now low cost SMPTE is here in the $100-$300 range.

     The JamBox/2 reads and writes SMPTE (30 frames/Sec) time code.  It also
generates MIDI sync (clock), MIDI Start, Stop, Continue, MIDI Song Position 
Pointer, and MIDI time code.  It can read and write a click track.  The MC-500 
doesn't support MIDI time code but does support MIDI sync and Song Position 
Pointer (basically which measure in the sequence you're on).

     The box itself is 1" high X 10" wide X 4 deep, is not rack mountable,
and yes, comes with wallbug (I share DB's aversion to these damn things).
It has 12 LEDs in front and 8 buttons on top.  Connections are SMPTE in
and out (RCA jacks), Click in and out (RCA jacks), 2 MIDI ins and 1 MIDI out.
The MIDI inputs are merged. 

     My hook up is SMPTE out to Tascam 38 (track 8) in, track 8 out to
SMPTE in on the JamBox/2.  Keyboard controller into MIDI in1, MIDI out into
MC-500 MIDI in.

     The basic way you use it is:

	1) Stripe (record) SMPTE time code onto a track 8 on the Tascam 38
           longer than the length of the sequence.  The SMPTE code sounds like 
           FSK and static combined (like Tom's piece on COMMUSIC V) 

	2) Verify the SMPTE stripe is good by syncing the JamBox/2 to it.
	   An LED lights up if it is.

	3) Create a "Tempo Map".  Since SMPTE time code itself has no
	   tempo/measure queues or "beat", we must create one which will
	   be stored in the JamBox/2.  While the Jambox is synced to the 38,
	   I "tapped" in the tempo for the sequence I wanted to sync on the
	   Tap button.  It needs just a couple of taps to get the tempo.
	   It can also take tempo and tempo changes from the click input.

	4) Set the MC-500 to receive MIDI clock.  Start the tape from the 
	   beginning.  The JamBox generates a MIDI Start command and then
	   MIDI Song Position Pointers and MIDI sync.  The MC-500 starts
	   up at the tempo I established with the tap.  I stopped the tape
	   and fast forwarded it to the middle.  It took about a second for
	   the MC-500 to kick in and it jumped ahead 40 measures!

	5) If you shut the JamBox off at this point, you'd loose the Tempo Map.
	   The JamBox can store Tempo Maps via MIDI system exclusive dumps
	   to the downline MC-500.  I stored it at the end of the sequence.

      So far, it works very good.  I can't go back to FSK now.  I gotta have
SMPTE with my MIDI.  A compulsion for video equipment is next...

Dave           

    Thanks for the reveiw Dave, youve inspired my interest.
    
    >  A compulsion for video equipment is next...
     
    I've been trying to stay away from this one..sounds expensive!!
    
    Does anyone have pointers to more info on SMPTE or MIDI time code? 
    
    Ken
                   

Hi Dave.

You mentioned $100-$300.    Do  you have a more specific price range for
     this device?

Thanks for the review.

/Mitch

Dave,

	I just picked up an 8trk, and thought I'd try and
	sync it with my MC300.  Following the instructions
	in the MC300 manual. I wired the MC300 sync output
	to channel 8 of my recorder, disabled trk8 DBX, and 
	set the record level to 0db. I then started the tape
	rolling and after a second or two, pressed play
	to start the sequencer and let it run to the end of 
	the song. 

	Swapped the cables so the MC300 sync input
	was connected to the output of track 8.
	Set the MC300 to tape synchronication, pressed play
	on the MC300 (ready to play, waiting for sync from tape),
	then I started the tape	from the beginning. 
	After a couple of seconds, the sequencer started up, 
	synched to tape.

	If I changed the tape speed, the speed of the sequencer
	varied. I could stop the tape at any time, and restart 
	it without loosing a note. I can't recall if I tried
	a fast forward.

	I repeated rewinding tape, and overdubbing new tape
	tracks from seperate sequencer tracks. It all
	seemed to work quite nicely, but I did always 
	start at the beginning of the song and roll to the 
	end.

	All of this seemed to work quite nicely, so I'm
	wondering what the advantage is of having the
	$300 hardware is? have you tried the method I used?
	What limitations/problems did you have with it?

Rick

    Re: .3
    
    This was exactly the way I synced before with FSK using MC500/38
    combo.  I tend to do alot of overdubs with guitars/vocals and
    comprimised quality by wasting a guide track.  And having to
    start from the begining everytime to sync.
    
    Now, once SMPTE is laid and tone map created, I can start the tape
    anywhere in the song and the sequence is there.
    
    Plus, I payed $0.  This is on permaloan.
    
    Dave